Family SYNANCEIIDAE

Synanceiidae

© Copyright from McCulloch 1915.

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Introduction

The Synanceiidae, commonly referred to as stonefishes, comprise seven genera and 23 species worldwide (Nelson 1994) . Five genera and 11 species are known from Australian waters.

Stonefishes are confined to the Indo-west-central Pacific. They are found in a variety of coastal habitats, including coral reefs, estuaries, fresh waters, and soft bottom environments on the continental shelf. Maximum size is 60 cm, but most species are less than 15 cm.

The Synanceiidae have been placed as a subfamily of the Scorpaenidae (Nelson 1994, 2006), but are here dealt with as a separate family. Nelson (1994) noted similarities of subfamilies of the Scorpaenidae, including the fact that all species have venom glands near the bases of the dorsal spines. Stonefish stings are extremely painful and sometimes fatal. Eschmeyer et al. (1979) revised Minous, Inimicus and Choridactylus and Eschmeyer & Rama Rao (1973) treated several genera. Many Australian species are treated in Poss (1999).

General References

Allen, G.R., Hoese, D.F., Cross, N.J. & Bray, D.J. 2006. Synanceiidae. pp. 903-906 in Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & Allen, G.R. Fishes. In, Beesley, P.L. & Wells, A. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Vol. 35. Volume 35 Australia : ABRS & CSIRO Publishing Parts 1-3, 2178 pp. [903]

Eschmeyer, W.N., Hallacher, L.E. & Rama-Rao, K.V. 1979. The scorpionfish genus Minous (Scorpaenidae, Minoinae) including a new species from the Indian Ocean. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 41(20): 453-473 figs 1-9

Eschmeyer, W.N. & Rama-Rao, K.V. 1973. Two new stonefishes (Pisces : Scorpaenidae) from the Indo-west Pacific, with a synopsis of the subfamily Synanceiinae. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 39(18): 337-382 figs 1-13

Nelson, J.S. 1994. Fishes of the World. New York : John Wiley & Sons 600 pp.

Nelson, J.S. 2006. Fishes of the World. Hoboken, New Jersey : John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 601 pp.

Poss, S.G. 1999. Families Scorpaenidae, Caracanthidae, Aploactinidae. pp. 2291-2358 in Carpenter, K.E. & Niem, T.H. (eds). The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fisheries Purposes. Rome : FAO Vol. 4 pp. 2069-2790.

Common Name References

Nelson, J.S. 1994. Fishes of the World. New York : John Wiley & Sons 600 pp. [312] (Stonefishes)

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